Continuing our recap of the top 10 Pocket Farmer events of 2011, an honorable mention goes to our Bella, who joined the family in June. Her photos were among the most viewed subjects all year and earned her a photo album of her own. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.174363485956010.44766.136629003062792& She continues to be a joyful addition to the clan and we are so blessed to have her.

Another honorable mention goes to my summertime passion of picking wild berries. We are fortunate to have a multitude of varieties here on the farm, including mulberries, black raspberries and blackberries. We are still enjoying the jams and breads that were made from harvesting these delicious fruits. So now that you know what didn't make the top 10, aren't you curious to see what did? The second half of 2011 was very eventful and even life changing. I'm proud to say we have grown more knowledgeable about this life we are living, the food we are eating, and our impact on our environment. On all fronts, we have effected improvements and I believe in 2012 we will continue this march toward a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. I hope you will join us! And now, celebrating our 1 year anniversary, I present: Part II of the top 10 Pocket Farmer events of 2011! In chronological order...

July 31: First corn crop! I finally planted corn again after a two year hiatus. Our last corn crop was completely devastated by varmints. This year, success! The weather cooperated and the pests stayed away! Our dog patrol and fencing strategy appeared to have worked and we were able to enjoy our own organic fresh and frozen sweet corn and popcorn for the first time in my life! Hooray! http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=167629489962743

August 13: Butchered our roosters. This is likely the most profound event of the year. Disturbing and yet, liberating. Looking back at it now, we feel less conflicted about raising and processing our own meat birds (since we aren’t vegetarians), knowing the quality of the food we are eating and no longer supporting an industry that is infamous for it’s shoddy, unsanitary and inhumane practices. Big day on so many levels. http://blog.poultrykeeper.com/pocket-farmer-blog/the-boys/

Sept 24: TPF blog is born! After wading through my fear of the unknown (I have zero background in web design), I patched a website together and started writing. Your feedback has been generous and motivational. Thank you! http://www.thepocketfarmer.com/index.html

Nov 4: First successful loaf of sourdough! A very long process finally comes to fruition. Three failed starters, some FB brainstorming (I am in awe of the knowledge and wisdom of our Pocket Farmer friends!) and a couple of trial loaves later…we have bread! http://www.thepocketfarmer.com/sourdough-starter.html

Nov 13: TPF Seed Exchange! A fun way to relive your summer garden and dream of the next year. We have been trading seeds and planning our new gardens for the past couple months and I am soooo excited to try my new seeds! Check out the link below if you are interested in the seed exchange program. I have a feeling 2012 will be a great year! Let's get started, shall we? http://www.thepocketfarmer.com/tpf-seed-exchange.html

Happy New Year Pocket Farmer! I finally caught up with your blog and I love it! It motivates me to keep better tract of my journey too! <3 Keep up the good work <3 The spring flower catologs are coming too, that always gets me through the midwest winters!

Reply

Debra Anderson

1/8/2012 12:25:49 am

Maybe I can WATCH you start your garden for some pointers. Be thinking about how to REMOVE the poison IVY from our Garden Plot. I'm NOT going in there with it!!!!!

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Hi, I'm Sue Pranskus, and this is my sometime blog. It's mostly about my attempts to "green-up" my life. On our little farm we experiment with livestock, gardening, building, repurposing and anything else that we find interesting. Born and bred on the West Coast, I am living in the Midwest by choice, not circumstance. I have built a life based largely on core values and loosely on whimsy. It's that whimsy, though, that gets me in trouble every time!